PFO So Far...

We are a week into PFO, and we have already received so much information. We've done everything from personality assessments to communication assessments to small group meetings to cultural differences activities to safety/security exercise to talking about Third Culture Kids (TCKs) to discussing the process of transition to brainstorming about what this would all look like in the classroom. It is a lot to take in. We are basically in sessions from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. with one or two 15 minute breaks, plus lunch. It is a good thing we have a binder with notes, because otherwise all this valuable information would get lost just in the sheer amount we are hearing.

We also have some activities in the evenings, from school bonding time to a tour of the NICS home office to a Memphis Redbirds (AAA baseball) game. The evenings also give us a little bit of down time, which is essential in helping us get to know the other people that will be teaching at our school and in the rest of the network next year. We have had the opportunity to start discussing with other teachers in our same content/grade areas different techniques, challenges, etc. in the international Christian school setting.

The great news is that there's still one more week of PFO! I will get another week of good information that will be helpful as I start teaching. I've already started making lists of what I can use in the classroom and how I might implement it.

One fun thing that we get to do next week is the Almost Talent Show. As the name might imply, this is a chance for the PFO participants to share all their "talent," whether that's in song, dance, skits, or stupid human tricks. My school has decided to put together an act. We have been rehearsing a bunch already and still have a long ways to go before we are ready to perform. I won't tell you what it is right now (I'll let you formulate your guesses). Here's a hint, though: it's probably something you would NEVER predict that I would do.

Pre-Field Orientation

For the next two weeks I will be in Southaven, Mississippi, for Pre-Field Orientation. This is a required training session for all new employees of the Network of International Christian Schools (NICS). Topics covered in these two weeks include third culture kids (TCKs), international schools, teaching in an intercultural context, dealing with cultural differences, and cultural transition. We will be in session all day, everyday. It will be a lot of information, but it will be a lot of good information that will help with the transition to teaching overseas. Since PFO is required for all new NICS employees, I will also have a chance to meet all the other new teachers (and their families) at my school. I will also have a chance to network with the other English teachers at the other schools.

I would really appreciate your prayers throughout the next two weeks. Pray that I would be able to learn, retain, and apply all the information from these two weeks. Pray that I learn more about myself and what I need to adjust to have a successful transition experience. Pray that I would have a soft heart for what God is going to teach me.

Pyongtaek International Christian School

Next year I will be teaching at Pyongtaek International Christian School in Pyongtaek, South Korea. In this post I will try to answer some of the most common questions about the school and what I will be teaching. Feel free to comment and ask any other questions you might have.

How big is the school?
The school has about 130 students, K-12. Class size in the high school is about 13.

Is the school associated with any organizations or mission boards?
The school is part of the Network of International Christian Schools, a nondenominational organization that has 21 schools around the world. For more information, visit their website at www.nics.org.

What classes will you be teaching?
I will be teaching high school English for grades 9-12. The classes are Literature and Composition (9th), World Literature (10th), British Literature (11th), and American Literature (12th). I will also be teaching speech and drama.

How far is Pyongtaek from Seoul?
The school is about 50 miles south of Seoul.

How far is Pyongtaek from the border with North Korea?
The school is about 80 miles from the border with North Korea.

What is the background of the students at the school?
The students come from a variety of countries. Most of them do not hold Korean passports; if they do, they need to have lived outside of Korea for at least 5 years to attend an international Christian school. Many of their parents are military contractors. The students do not have to be Christians to attend the school. As a result, my classroom could have atheists, Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus, etc., in it. It will be a really neat opportunity to share the Gospel with students who may not have ever heard it before.